Rotterdam museum closes peanut butter floor after 48,000 visitors, 48 cleaned feet
After over eight weeks, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen removed Wim T. Schippers’ Peanut Butter Floor from its Depot in Rotterdam. The tribute to the late artist, who died in June at the age of 83, drew 48,000 visitors.
48 people accidentally stepped on the artwork; museum staff had to fish five phones out of the peanut butter, and there was “one licking incident,” the museum said.
Like in previous editions, the Peanut Butter Floor “stirred up a lot of excitement,” the museum said. It received 80 complaints about the artwork. The museum also put out postcards where people could leave a comment. 782 people wrote down their thoughts.
“Hi. I’m from New Zealand. Is this common for Dutch people?” one postcard reads. Another: “I’ve never looked this intensively at peanut butter.” And: “Is heaven made of peanut butter?” And: “I accidentally stepped in it.” That one is signed by Arthur, age 5.
Wim T. Schippers conceived of this artwork in 1962. “The piece centers on the idea of a peanut butter floor in a museum, prompting visitors to wonder why it is there. It raises questions such as: ‘Is this art?’ and ‘Am I allowed to like this?’” the museum wrote.
“Schippers viewed art as something that need not necessarily be logical or useful. It can be nonsensical – much like life itself – and yet be worthwhile for that reason.”








